2. To Do List for Your WQ

You have been selected by the principal of your school to create a WebQuest for your class because of your innovative use of ICT in the classroom. You will place it on the internet as an example for the staff of your school to view. While planning your WebQuest, it is important to ensure that your WebQuest meets the following requirements:

• Is based on a unit of work that runs for no less than four weeks
• Integrates a minimum of three ICT tools within the unit of work (This does not include the internet)
• Is based on a social-constructivist approach
• Is problem based
• Is placed live on the web
• Contains an assessment rubric for the student tasks
• Contains graphic organisers to support the learning
• Contains a Teacher’s Page which includes:
  • The year level the WQ is designed for
  • A mindmap showing the planning of the WQ
  • The process involved with creating the WQ (ie. Justifying the topic, tasks etc.)
  • The unit outcomes (Specific and measurable lesson outcomes)
  • Links to Curriculum documents

The following steps are provided as a guideline to assist you with this task.

Step 1
Examine what you will be assessed on as well as what makes a great WebQuest.

• Read the criteria on the WQ rubric in the unit outline
• Analyse some WQs – The good, the bad and the ugly
• List your ideas about the components required for a successful WQ

Some resources to assist
http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic4.htm
http://bestwebquests.com/bwq/matrix.asp
http://www.infotoday.com/MMSchools/oct00/march.htm

Step 2
Brainstorm ideas for the WQ.

• What specific outcomes do you want students to achieve by the end of the WQ?
• How can you set the WQ within a meaningful and engaging context?
• Think about possible problem scenarios
• What tasks will be needed to assist in meeting the outcomes?
• How can the tasks be broken down into different roles?
• What resources are required? (internet sites, graphic organisers, ICT tools)
• What is the timeframe for the WQ?

Some resources to assist
http://webquest.sdsu.edu/Process/WebQuestDesignProcess.html
http://www.internet4classrooms.com/inspiration.htm
http://www.atomiclearning.com/uk/en/inspiration7_pc?from_legacy=1&from_auth=1&from_auth=1

Step 3
Link your specific lesson outcomes to the Curriculum documents.

• Do the specific lesson outcomes match up with the syllabus?
• What are the broader outcomes from the Curriculum Framework? (Learning Area Outcomes and Overarching Learning Outcomes, Values)

Step 4
Create a problem that will provide a meaningful and engaging context for the meeting of the outcomes.

• Design tasks that will meet the outcomes while staying true to the Social Constructivist approach
• Revisit your notes to ensure that your WQ is underpinned by the Social Constructivist Theory
• What order will the tasks take so they build sequentially?
• Are the tasks higher order thinking orientated?
• How will three ICT tools be integrated?
• Do these tools assist learning and thinking?

Some resources to assist
http://scholar.uwinnipeg.ca/khunt/WebQuest/task.cfm
http://ugent.academia.edu/documents/0013/1452/bjet.pdf

Step 5
Create a rubric to assess the outcomes.

• Locate some rubrics and analyse them
• Search for rubric generators on the net
• How will you encourage students to self-reflect on the process and the products?

Some resources to assist
http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php
http://myt4l.com/index.php?v=pl&page_ac=view&type=tools&tool=rubricmaker
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/july/rubrics/Rubric_Template.html

Step 6
Decide on how you will present your WebQuest.

• Will you use Wikispace, QuestGarden or something else?
• Sign up and start experimenting with the formats and features

Step 7
Collect appropriate resources.
· Search the net for animations, titles, graphics, websites, podcasts, vodcasts etc.
· Are the resources age-appropriate?
· Are the resources directly assisting the learning?
· Have graphic organisers been used appropriately to scaffold the learning?

Step 8
Start putting it all together.
· Check the requirements again to see that you have included all elements.


A key purpose for your WebQuest is to show the other staff in the school how to integrate ICT into the classroom through a series of motivating, authentic and engaging tasks for students.


The principal offers her best wishes for your endeavours to be a leader in innovation and creativity in our school.



Panda Gardner
Principal’s Secretary.